SOC Heads to Stillwater to Face No. 12 Oklahoma State

By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
            This is how crazy Big 12 soccer is right now: Defending league champion Baylor (8-6-3, 4-4-0) will try to play the spoiler role against a 12^th-ranked Oklahoma State team (13-1-3, 6-1-1) that didn't even make the Big 12 tournament a year ago.
            The Bears can take a big step in earning their third-straight NCAA tournament berth by beating the Cowgirls in Thursday's 7 p.m. regular-season finale at Neal Patterson Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.
            "The Big 12 has been crazy," senior defender Kylie Ross said. "Any team can win or lose on any given day. I think it's the same with us. We've been in every single game, even the Kansas game (4-1 loss). The scores just haven't been showing it. But, if you're there on the sidelines watching games, you know we've had every single Big 12 team on their heels."
            At 54^th in the latest RPI rankings, Baylor would get a big boost with a win over an OSU team that is 16^th in the RPI and leading Texas Tech (13-2-2, 5-1-2) in the Big 12 standing by two points. A Cowgirls' loss could open the door for the Red Raiders, who close out the regular season at Kansas State (3-12-2, 1-7-0).
            Coach Paul Jobson said Baylor's situation is not as dire as it was two years ago, when the Bears won the Big 12 Championship by beating TCU, 2-1, in overtime to earn the league's automatic bid. They parlayed that into the first of two-straight Elite Eight appearances with wins over Rice and Notre Dame and a shootout victory over defending national champion USC.
            "I don't think we're in that same position," Jobson said. "I think if we can take care of business and win Thursday, we put ourselves in a really good position. Obviously, if we win that game and then win our first-round game in the Big 12 tournament, I think we're in. You never know, there's a committee that decides. But, we're definitely in a better position right now than we were in 2017 heading into the (Big 12) tournament."
            OSU has won six in a row after opening conference play with a 1-0 loss to Tech and a 1-1 tie with TCU. The Cowgirls are 8-0-1 at home, the lone blemish being a 2-2 tie against SMU on Sept. 22.
            "They're physical, they're good on the ball, and just good all over the field," Ross said. "Why not save the best for last because we're all up for the challenge. And going in, I just think it's going to make the tournament almost easier."
            Sophomore midfielder Grace Yochum leads the Cowgirls with 11 goals, while senior midfielder Jaci Jones has scored six goals and ranks in the top 10 nationally with 11 assists.
            Baylor bounced back from a 2-0 loss to Texas Tech with Sunday's 2-0 win at home over Iowa State. Senior forward Raegan Padgett leads the Bears with six goals, four game-winners and two assists.
            Already assured a berth in the Big 12 Championship that starts Sunday in Kansas City, Mo., Baylor could finish anywhere from fifth to eighth, depending on the outcomes of the other four games.
            "This group has seen it all and know that anything is possible," Jobson said. "That's one reason this group has been so resilient through the ups and downs of the season. We've been a quality group all year and had opportunities to win every game. But, when it didn't go our way, they didn't falter and they didn't fail and they kept mov8ng forward. I think this team is ready for just about anything."

WACO, Texas – Baylor soccer (8-6-3, 4-4) makes its way to Oklahoma State (13-1-3, 6-1-1) for a Thursday night showdown against the 12^th-ranked Cowgirls.

This time a year ago, Baylor was preparing to host Oklahoma for a Senior Night ceremony that would end with the Bears hoisting their first Big 12 regular season championship trophy for the first time since 1998. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State was finishing out conference play toward the bottom of the standings and looking to make a run in the Big 12 Championship.

This year, it's Oklahoma State with its sights set on a postgame trophy ceremony as the Cowgirls are in sole possession of first place in the league's standings, with Texas Tech only two points behind. Meanwhile, Baylor has clinched its spot in the Big 12 Championship and is hoping to go on a run reminiscent of 2017 to advance to its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Baylor is top 20 in the country in shots (17.29) and shots on goal (8.41) per game. On the season, the Bears have outshot their opponents, 294-196, with a 143-75 advantage in shots on goal. Baylor is led offensively by Raegan Padgett who matched her season total from a year ago when she netted her sixth goal of the season against Iowa State on Sunday.

Oklahoma State is currently riding a six-match winning streak dating back to a double overtime draw at TCU on Sept. 29. On its home field at Neal Patterson Stadium, the Cowgirls are 8-0-1. Led by Grace Yochum with 11 goals, Oklahoma State ranks 12^th nationally in scoring offense at 2.47 goals per game.

Keep up with the team all season long by following Baylor Soccer on the team's official Twitter (@BaylorFutbol), Facebook (Baylor Soccer), and Instagram (@BaylorFutbol).

STORY LINES

Baylor heads to Stillwater for its final regular season contest of the 2019 season when it takes on No. 12 Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. Thursday.
The Bears are 13-10-3 vs. the Cowgirls with a 4-8-1 mark in Stillwater.
Three of the last four matches in Stillwater have gone to overtime. Baylor went 1-1-1 during those games.
Thursday marks Baylor's final regular season match of 2019 as the Bears will head straight to Kansas City from Stillwater for the first round of the Big 12 Championship.
Baylor is coming off a 2-0 win over Iowa State on Senior Day. Marissa Gray netted her first career goal before Raegan Padgett scored her sixth of the season. Both goals came in the first half of action.
BU's 16 first-half shots vs. the Cyclones marked the most since Baylor had 19 in the first half vs. Louisiana on Aug. 18, 2017. Iowa State's one shot on goal on Sunday marked a season low by a BU opponent.
Baylor outshot its opponents over the weekend by a combined total of 45-16.
BU leads the conference and is top 20 in the country in shots (17.29) and shots on goal (8.41) per game.
Baylor checks in at No. 54 in this week's RPI. BU is seventh in the Big 12 behind 15 Texas Tech, 16 Oklahoma State, 19 Kansas, 33 West Virginia, 46 Texas and 51 TCU. Rounding out the conference are 67 Oklahoma, 186 Kansas State and 203 Iowa State.
Baylor earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award after posting a 3.63 GPA in 2018-19. Of the nine Big 12 schools that received the award, BU had the highest GPA with Kansas and Kansas State tied for second with a 3.47.

#SicEm

SOC Heads to Stillwater to Face No. 12 Oklahoma State

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Marissa Gray

Raegan Padgett

Kylie Ross

Footer